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      Vocabulary bag
      Submitted by William on 1 April, 2008 - 10:10

      To revise new vocabulary I keep a vocabulary bag in the classroom for the term. When we study new vocabulary in a lesson I write the words on strips of card (one word on each) and put the cards in the vocabulary bag. I use the vocabulary bag to play different games to revise the words in the bag.

      One example is at the start of a lesson as a warmer I give each student a card and they find a partner and give a definition of the word. Their partner has to try and guess what the word is. Partners swap cards and find a new partner to give a definition to. Keep swapping partners until everyone has had a chance to speak with several other students.

      Added by William, Hong Kong

      Average: 3.6 (183 votes)

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      Jackson Isaltino's picture
      Jackson Isaltino
      This is indeed a good way
      Submitted on 12 September, 2008 - 21:07
      This is indeed a good way to start the lesson. I have done that mainly while latecomers turn up. I also try to make them use the new words or phrases to talk about something personal, something about their jobs or families. They tend to stick the words to memory more effectively.
      Abdelillah's picture
      Abdelillah
      technique vs use
      Submitted on 26 September, 2008 - 09:17

      Hi William,

      The technique you resorted to is a good one.However what can help learners learn new lexical items is when the latter are inserted in a whole effective process with a communicative purpose i.e learners use words in a real life-situation with a view to communicating.Limiting learning vocabulary to mechanical practice may prove insufficient;it needs to be sustainable.How many times have practioners felt very satisfied when they their students show good practice but when it comes to communicating,learners find it very hard to use the appropriate vocabulary and grammar?  

      Kind regards,

      Abdelillah

      ninolomt's picture
      ninolomt
      vocabulary bag
      Submitted on 30 November, 2008 - 11:08
      I like the 'bag' idea. I am doing the same activity with my students whispering the words separately and they have to explain them to their partners using different ways for it.
      marialetodiani's picture
      marialetodiani
      Vocab activity
      Submitted on 6 May, 2009 - 19:21

      This activity is really good for revising vocabulary. I tried to do vocabulary differently. I give Ss little papers and write a topic on the board (food, clothes, Animals) and they have to write words they have learnt about the topic and their names. At the end I count the words and the student who has written most is the winner. It works with elementary courses and can be a warmer.

      nurlita's picture
      nurlita
      Vocabulary bag??
      Submitted on 5 July, 2009 - 05:27

      Actually it's a great idea, but sometimes it's difficut for me to make my class as cheerful as I think with this method. How can I make my students more enjoy it? Coz they are easy to be bored with any kind of lesson/games I give. Or maybe I don't really touch them? Any idea??????????